IL Magazine: Discover the World's Best Retirement Haven for 2023 + 15 more
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Panama boasts cool mountain havens and country hamlets…miles and miles of beaches along the Pacific and Caribbean… and of course, a modern capital famous for its sparkling skyline. With so many destinations and climates to choose from, planning a scouting trip can feel like an impossible task...
Imagine waking up every day and thinking: I love my life. Imagine sunshine pouring in through picture windows…waking you with its warmth, after a cool night’s sleep, rays glinting on calm, pale blue water, just beyond a green expanse. You step out onto your balcony to stretch and enjoy the fresh, clean ocean air. You can start your day with a dip in your pool...
Panama has so much to offer, from mountain havens boasting year-round mild temperatures to colonial towns where the traditions of grand old Spain have shaped and enriched the local culture. But it’s Panama’s sunny beaches that get the most attention…and with good reason.
I’ve been living in and writing about Panama for over a decade, and I haven’t gotten bored yet. Far from it. A few hours travel can get me to exciting places like the Darién Jungle or quiet little havens like Isla Contadora. Scientists, adventure seekers, ecotourists, luxury travelers…there’s something for everyone in Panama.
Panama is one of the safest countries in Latin America. Whether you’re comparing crime statistics, reading tourist guidebooks, or checking Canadian or U.S. State Department travel advisories, you’ll find this to be true. And whether you’re looking up tourist-reported incidents...
The first morning, I am staggered by the sun. I lay on my side, facing a wall of glass. The orb emerging from the Pacific is impossibly close. Perfectly framed by my windows, it’s big and tungsten bright and shining just for me. I have excellent blackout curtains, but I went to bed and left them open, happy to rise with good old Sol.
From the glittering lights of downtown Panama City, it’s an hour’s drive to the little beach hub of Coronado. In a matter of minutes, there’s a drastic change of view. Zip past the gleaming skyscrapers that line the half-moon of Panama Bay and over the historic Bridge of the Americas, and suddenly, you’re in the country.
On the 2.5 acres known as Vista Volcán, life is more than pleasant. It’s abundant. It’s safe. It’s both social and serene. Located in Panama’s Chiriquí province, Vista Volcán is a little idyll just 10 minutes from the bustle of the Boquete village center. And for Peter Kaye, 63, and wife Sarah Syers, 57, it’s as close to perfect as it gets.
Getting a bit greedy, perhaps, I extended my search from Panama City to the beaches nearby. An attractive apartment listed for just under $160,000 caught my eye. I didn’t know what the building was like, or whether there was a view. (A well-written listing it was not.) But—another whim—I decided to make an appointment to see it.
I’m pet-sitting at Vista Mar while my friends Sami and Roberto vacation in Panama’s highlands. It’s a simple exchange…I get a free stay at a beautiful beach apartment and they get someone they trust to take care of Chico and Spartacus, their rescue cat. These gigs are relatively easy to find in Panama’s expat communities.